Distant reading liquid reservoir gauge



April 22, 1952 N. MARCUS 2,593,587

DIsTANT READING LIQUID REsERvoIE GAUGE Filed April 20. 1948 2 smzIS-SHEEI 1 2 I TIIT INVENTOR.l

- M MMM lj aib/750.

April 22, 1952 N. MARCUS 2,593,587

DISTANT READING LIQUID RESERVOIR GAUGE Filed April 20, 1948 2 S'lEE'I'S-SPEET 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Apr. 22, 1952 DISTANT READING 'LIQUID RESERVOIR GAUGE Nathan Marcus, nion City, N. J.

Application April 20, 1948, Serial No. 22,226

claims." (ci. 73-302) This invention relates to distant reading gauges for reservoirs for liquids, particularly for fuel oil, and has for its main object to provide a device of this character, which will be more eiiicient in use, easier to employ and t'o manipulate, f

than such devices now in use or heretofore proposed.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent as the specification of the same proceeds, or

will be pointed out therein.

In the drawings forming a part of this specication and accompanying the same:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my device, while l Fig-2 is a sectional view thereof, the section generally being taken on the line 22 of Fig. i; Fig. 3 isa fragmentary sectional view of the lower part of my device -on a larger scale than the earlier figures, the section being taken as in'- dicated at 3-3 in Fig. 2, and a liquid reservoir and the usual long narrow pipe connection from the same lto the distant gauge also being indicated in the iigure in a diagrammatic manner;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View, the section being v,taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail by characters of reference, the numeral Il) indi.. cates my .novel distant reading gauge, in .general, the same being composed of lve main elements, a frame structure with angularly placed viront plates, generally indicated by the numeral Il, two gauges proper I2 and I3 secured on said front angular plates, an indicator tube I4 placed at the meeting of the angular plates and reading gauges proper, a connection member I5 for theA tubeIB leading to the liquid reservoir vto be gauged, and finally a resilient bag I1 at the top of the device in connection with the tube I4 to clear and adjust part of my device when necessary.

The frame II may be made of an appropriate cast metal, and will have the mentioned two angularly placed front plate members i8 and I9,

two' rear/ward side plates-20 and 2|, an upper In the container member 25, a substantially Wide vertical bore 28 is provided, which is continued in a transverse, preferably narrower f bore 29, and a bore 30 is provided in the lower crossgmember 23 adapted to receive the lower end of the tube i4.

A connector member 3| is provided forv the upper end of the device, having a screw threaded lower portion 32 tting into the screw threaded upper part 33 of the bore 26, and the resilient rubber or similar bag I1 is secured on an'appropriate upper part 34 of said connector member 3|.

An inwardly opening check valve 35 is arranged at the upper end of the resilient bag I1, said valve being any of the well known constructions for such purpose, and permitting air to enter into the bag I1 when the same expands, but locking the exit for the air when the bag is compressed', as will easily be understood by those versed in this art.

The container bore 28 will have a transverse bore 36 starting from the top portion thereof and leading into the connector element I5 (Fig. 3) into which is sealingly secured the narrowtube I6, which leadsto the liquid reservoir 31, as for instance, the distant fuel oil tank, and enters the same by a termination member 38, the fuel oil or other liquid therein being indicated at 39.

A great number of coils 40 are indicated in the narrow tube I6, since a certain length of the same is necessary for a better operation of the device, and usually it will have to have a certain length to reach the distant tank 31, Iand the usual great length of the tube I6 compared with vthe rest of the deviceis' indicated by the coils' 40.

'I he use and operation of my device will be understood by those versed in this art from the description thereof.

The container 28 will be partly lled with a liquid 4I of heavy specific gravity, like mercury, part of which, obviously, will flow over into the tube I4, as indicated at 4Ia through the bore 23 and being balanced according to certain -air pressure conditions defined by the height of the liquid or fuel oil 39 in the tank 31, and the height of the mercury column 4Ia in the tube I4 will have a denite relation to the height of the-fluid 39 in the tank 31.

On the-left side gauge proper I2 the height of liquid in the tank 31 is indicated in inches, as shown at 42, while on the right side gauge proper I3, the relative fullness of Ythe tank 31 is indicated in eghths, as shown at 4'3.

It will be seen that when the tank 31 is filled with the liquid 39, like fuel oil, it will rise in the termination 38 of the small tube I6, and will compress the air in said tube to a proportionate degree. This pressure will extend into the mercury container 28 and will cause some mercury to flow over into the tube I4, the mercury co1- umn 4Ia therein being then higher and indieating in a pre-calculated manner, on the respective scales, the height of the fuel content of the tank 31 either in inches or in relation to the capacity of the full tank.

Now, as the fuel oil is consumed, its level will sink and it will permit the air in the narrow tube I6 to expand thereby reducing its pressure, whereupon the air pressure over the mercury in the container 28 will be reduced and the same will rise, reducing the height of the measuring mercury column 4Ia in the reading tube I4. In this manner, as will be seen, the respective scales I2 and I3 will at once show the condition of the liquid content of the tank 3l.

It may happen that air, dirt, or liquid may get into the parts of the device, particularly into the long narrow tube Iii, whereby the indication of it will be influenced and may not be true any more. In such cases pressure may be exerted on the resilient bag I 'I at the top of the device whereby the air therein will be pressed into the tube I4 since the check valve 35 will prevent the exit of the air therethrough. The increased air pressure will drive the mercury dla. out of the tube I4 and the mercury column 4I in the container 25 will rise thereby exerting pressure on the air in the narrow tube I5, as will be obvious. This pressure will drive all the impurities, pos sible particles of liquid, etc., out of the tube IE and down into the tank 3l whereupon the device will operate in a correct manner. The same procedure may be used when installing the device, the tank 3l being empty so that the pipe I6 and the communicating parts of the device will first be cleared through the repeated pressures and relaxation on the resilient bag I'I.

As will be seen by observing the drawings, my device will have a vertical plain rear surface 50 whereby it may be placed against a wall or the like, in an eicient and easy manner, and it may ,have the upper and lower securing extensions or ears I having the apertures 52 therein through which a screw or other securing device may be employed to fasten my distant reading gauge on a. wall or similar surface, at any desired place like in the kitchen or living room of a house, heated through the use of the fuelvoil 3S.

It also will be seen that the resilient bag I' is arranged on the tcp of the device in such a manner that it will clear the wall on which the device will be secured and permit an easy operation of said resilient bag for the purpose described. Similarly, the connection I5 for the narrow tube IS leading to the distant fuel oil tank, will be on the side of the device avoiding said wall or other support. My device, therefore,

will permit an easy and efficient securing of the same and will permit access tothe necessary operating parts of the device or such parts where the usual observation, removal and adjustment or repair may be necessary.

At the upper end of the indicator tube I4 I place a disk 53 of canvas 0r other appropriate sheet material, which permits a passage of the air therethrough, but will prevent the passage of the mercury, should the samey somehow rise to that height, or if the device is placed in such a position as to permit the ilowing of the mercury to said upper end. Above the canvas disk 53 I employ a perforated cork washer 54, so that when the element 3| is threaded downwardly to secure the glass tube I4, it will exert resilient yielding pressure thereon for obvious reasons. For the same reason, a perforated cork washer 55 is placed at the lower end of the tube I4.

At the inner end of the connecting member I5 (Fig. 3) I also place a canvas disk 56 to prevent the flowing over of the mercury into the narrow tube I6. A perforated metal washer 5l may be employed pressed into the inner opening of the member I5 to hold the canvas disk 56 in its place.

It will be obvious to those versed in this art, that various methods may be employed to assemble my device, particularly to set the reading tube I4 into the bores 26 and` 3D in the frame of it. As an example, one such method may consist in having the upper transverse member 22 of the frame carrying the bore 26, as a separate piece being secured to the rest of frame by' releasable means, like screws (not shown). Another method may consist in having the screw threaded bore 33 wider than bore 26 so that tube I4 may be dropped down through the bore 33 into its place in the device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a distant reading gauge for a closed liquid reservoir, a reading tube, a closure disk for the upper end of the tube, permeable to air but impermeable to a heavy fluid, like mercury, an indicating fluid container having a wider vertical leg and a norrow horizontal bore starting at the lower part of said leg, the lower end of said tube communicating with said horizontal bore, and being spaced apart from said leg, means to close the upper end of said leg, a narrow pipe leading from the upper part of said leg into said liquid reservoir adjacent to its bottom, a heavy fluid, like mercury, in said indi.- eating fluid container, a closure disk permeable to air but impermeable to a heavy fluid for the opening of said pipe into said vertical leg, and an air pump communicating with the upper end of said reading tube adapted to blow air thereinto through said upper disk.

2. In a distant reading gauge for a closed liquid reservoir, a reading tube, a closure disk for the upper end of the tube, permeable to air but impermeable to a heavy fluid, like mercury, an indicating fluid container having a wider vertical leg and a narrow horizontal bore starting at the lower part of said leg, the lower end of said tube communicating with said horizontal bore, and being spaced apart from said leg, means to close the upper end of said leg, a narrow pipe leading from the upper part of said leg into said liquid reservoir adjacent to its bottom, la heavy fluid, like mercury, in said indicating fluid container, a closure disk permeable to air but impermeable to a heavy fluid for the opening of said pipe into said vertical leg, and an air pump communicating with the upper end of said reading tube adapted to blow air thereinto through said upper disk, said heavy indicating fluid being more than needed to iill said vertical leg, so that when it is caused by air pressure exerted thereon through said reading tube to move into and fill said leg, a portion of said uid will remain in said horizontal bore and thereby prevent the air pumped into said reading tube to escape through said heavy fluid into the pipe leading to the liquid reservoir.

3. In a distant reading gauge for a closed liquid reservoir, a reading tube, a closure disk for the upper end of the tube, permeable to air but impermeable to a heavy iiuo., like mercury, an indicating fluid container having a wider vertical leg and a narrow horizontal bore startu ing at the lower part of said leg, the lower end of ysaid tube communicating with said horizontai bore, and being spaced apart from said leg, means to close the upper end or" said leg, a narrow pipe leading from the upper part of said leg into said liquid res rvoir adjacent to its bot tom, a heavy uid, like mercury, in said indicating fluid container, a closure disk permeable to air but impermeable to a heavy fiuic. for the opening of said pipe into said vertical leg, and an air pump communicating with the upper end or said reading tube adapter to blow air thereinto through said upper disk, a frame for said gauge, having a vertical member and respective transverse members at the upper and lower ends thereof, coaxial bores in said transverse members to receive the ends ci said reading tube, said vertical leg and said horizontal bore or the indicating iiuid container being arranged in said lower transverse member.

4. In a distant reading gauge for a closed liquid reservoir, a reading tube, a closure disk for the upper end of the tube, permeable to air but impermeable to a heavy fiuid, like mercury, an indicating duid container having a Wider vertical leg and a narrow horizontal bore starting at the lower part of said leg, the lower end of said tube communicaing with said horizontal bore, and being spaced apart from said leg, means to close the upper end oi said leg, a narrow pipe leading from the upper part of said leg into said liquid reservoir adjacent to its bottom, ,a heavy fluid, like mercury, in said indicating fluid container, a closure disk permeable to air but impermeable to a neavy uid for the opening of lsaid pipe into said vertical leg, and an air pump communicating with the upper end of said reading tube adapted to blow air thereinto through said upper disk, a frame for said gauge, having a vertical member and respective transverse members at the upper and lower ends thereof, coaxial bores in said transverse members to receive the ends of said reading tube, said vertical leg and said horizontal bore of the indicating iiuid container being arranged in said iower transverse member, a throughgoing pipe in the bore for the upper end of said reading tube, projecting above the top of said upper transverse member, said air pump being in the form of a resilient bulb secured on the upper end of said throughgoing pipe, communicating therewith and having a normally closed valve adapted to open inwardly when partial vacuum is produced in said bulb.

5. In a distant reading gauge for a closed liquid eservoir, a ing tube, a closure disk for the pper end or the tube, permeable to air but imermeable to a heavy iiuid, like mercury, an inicating fluid container having wider vertical .eg and a narrow horizontal bore starting at the ovver part or said leg, the lower end of said tube ommunicating with said horizontal bore, and icing spaced apart from said leg, means to close be upper end of said leg, a narrow pipe leadng from the upper part of said leg into said liquid reservoir adjacent to its bottom, a heavy fluid, like mercury, in said indicating iiuid container, closure disk permeable to air but impermeable to a heavy fluid for the opening of said pipe into said vertical leg, and an air pump communicating with the upper end or" said reading tube adapted to blow air thereinto through said upper disk, a frame ier said gauge, having a vertical member respective transverse members at the upper and lower ends thereof, coaxial bores in transverse members to receive the ends oi reading tube, said vertical leg and said "zcntal bore of the indicating iiuid container c g arranged in said lower transverse member, said air being in the form of a resilient bulb, communicating with the upper end of said reading tube, said frame having rearward extensions terminating in a vertical plane and means to suspend the gauge on a vertical support by extensions whereby said bulb Will be spaced apart from said support and may be conveniently operated on the device when desired.

NATHAN BIARCUS.

CITED The following references are of record in the fue of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 824,532 Dunn June 26, 1906 992,612 Stanton May 16, 1911 1,195,736 Rohn Aug. 22, 1916 1,394,931 T iundiri Oct. 18, 1921 1,396,273 Miller et al Nov. 8, 1921 1,399,205 Frey Dec. 6, 1921 1,619,919 Cook Mar. 8, 1927 1,642,615 Lommel Sept. 13, 1927 1,999,774 Star Mar. 7, 1933 2,912,511 Hubbard Aug. 27, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 131,837 Great Britain Sept. 4, 1919 

